How Untreated Depression Can Negatively Impact Your Health

Some 17 million Americans suffer from depression, a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, far beyond just being “sad.” It’s a common condition, but it can be a serious one. Depression can make it impossible to enjoy your life and participate in work, school, or social activities.

It’s more than just a mood disorder, too. Depression can make you feel unexplained aches and pains, fatigue, or suffer appetite and weight changes. Letting depression go untreated can have significant negative effects on your health in more ways than you might think.

At Allied Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hadi Estakhri, MD (known to his patients as Dr. E.) is an expert in diagnosing and treating depression. He and our team will work diligently to create a treatment plan that works for you.

Understanding depression

Depression goes by many names. Major depressive disorder, clinical depression, or simply depression all refer to the same condition, and all leave you with a deep sadness or emptiness that goes beyond normal feelings of grief or sadness.

An estimated 17 million Americans, or 7% of the population, suffers from depression in any given year. Anyone can develop depression, including children. Depressive symptoms vary greatly from person to person, but if they last for more than two weeks, they should be evaluated and treated by a professional to help prevent serious side effects that impact your quality of life.

How depression affects your health

Depression is a mood disorder, but your mood isn’t the only thing it impacts. If left untreated, depression can affect your physical and emotional wellbeing, in addition to your mental wellbeing.

Common symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Insomnia
• Sleeping too much
• Weight changes
• Aches and pains
• Headache
• Digestive problems
• Suicidal ideations or attempts

Symptoms can also come and go, which means that you might experience symptoms occasionally while others are present all the time.

Treatment for depression can improve your life

Untreated depression has significant detrimental effects on your health, but the good news is that the condition is treatable. Many people who seek care for depression find relief from negative feelings and acquire helpful methods for managing depression in their lives.

Dr. Estakhri is an expert at evaluating depression and helping patients find the right type of treatment for them. He may prescribe one or more medications to help balance your brain chemistry to improve your mood.,Talk therapy is also a proven method of depression treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy, where you learn to live in the moment and work your way out of bad situations by challenging negative thoughts, can be highly effective. 

Depression treatment is personalized for you and your needs. Dr. Estakhri works with you to achieve better mental clarity and resolve any underlying issues contributing to your depression.

It’s important to know when depression becomes a life-threatening condition. If you or someone close to you has suicidal thoughts or actions, seek immediate medical care or visit the emergency room. 

Depression can feel like a cloud that’s impossible to escape from, but treatment can help stop its negative effects on your health and your life. Call us at 949-258-7135 or schedule your appointment online today.